Opera

JOYCE RUDOLPH Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen" has undergone a remake for tonight's concert performed by the Pasadena Pops Orchestra at Descanso Gardens. Musical director and conductor Rachael Worby's purpose was to create a production to which a modern audience could relate. So, the story has been moved from 1820 Seville, Spain, to a studio set in 1945 Hollywood, in the style of a film noir. "The performance will be framed as a press conference in a film studio addressing the murder of Carmen," Worby said.

Joyce Rudolph The Brandview Collection was filled with beautiful music Friday night. Operatic, classical and show tunes were the perfect topper for an evening of socializing and dining at the third annual Festa Italiana. Co-chairwoman Mary Wight and Mary Lou Bacino organized the musical gala sponsored by the Women's Committee of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra Association. Capturing thunderous applause from the 100-plus attending were Don Domenico, world-renowned tenor, and Anna Coombs accompanied by Holli Addy on piano.

On Monday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. Lyla Forlani, Production Stage Manager for the Los Angeles Opera, will speak at the La Canada Flintridge Library. Lyla Forlani marks this season as her eighth with the Los Angeles Opera. A classically trained musician, it was while studying bassoon at Indiana University's prestigious school of music that Lyla's love for opera was sparked. In this "Behind the Scenes" program, Lyla will talk about what it's like calling a show, prepping for a show and what she does during the show.

The Lyon Opera Ballet, one of France's national treasures, returns to UCLA Live in a program featuring works by four modern dance masters: William Forsythe, Russell Maliphant, Nacho Duato and Jirí Kylián. These two evenings of dance take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 1 and 2 at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus. Under the guidance of artistic director Yorgos Loukos, France's Lyon Opera Ballet is widely regarded as one of the world's preeminent dance companies. Commissioning numerous works by today's most important new and esteemed modern choreographers, the company serves as a virtual showcase for the most current, brilliant and innovative dance.

They?re a venerable and formerly well-respected organization, with veteran and rookie members, they do some very odd things on occasion and they?re not exactly having a banner year. No, I?m not speaking of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but of the Glendale City Council. The five city fathers?there hasn?t been a city mother in a few years now?are individually very fine folks, but collectively they do sometimes look like the gang that couldn?t shoot straight. It?s been a highly uneasy year for the council.

For 12-year-old Brandon Cheung, learning the music for the world premiere of the children's opera "Keepers of the Night" was the easy part. Finding his motivation as a singing firefly demanded more artistic interpretation. "I thought about the characteristics of fireflies," said Brandon, an incoming eighth-grader at La Cañada High School. "They zip around in an unorganized manner; so I like to improvise a lot when I'm on stage. Since our costumes light up in the back, I stick out my behind and bolt around in a chaotic way."

Tenor Liam McLachlan studied opera singing in college in the mid-1990s in Australia, but his career has taken a few turns in other music genres, including a stint with pop touring group The Ten Tenors. Now living in Glendale, he’s decided to return to opera and make it a full-time career. McLachlan is hoping to get a jump start on that dream as one of six singers performing in the 2008 Fall Performers Showcase presented by the Opera Buffs Inc. on Nov. 8 at the Zipper Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

South Korean dignitaries paid a visit to Glendale on Sunday in honor of La Crescenta taekwondo master James Oh. Chairman of the South Korean Democratic Party Hwagahp Hahn and Consulate General of the Republic of Korea Byung Hyo Choi both flew over from meetings on the East Coast to speak at and to witness the introduction of a new opera based on Oh's life. "It's an honor to have someone of this magnitude come to Glendale," said Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver. "With more than 12,000 Koreans in the Glendale community I think it's a noteworthy event."

Cross-dressing men, a Norwegian sailors' chorus and cabaret-esque dancers where met with cheers and applause as they took to the stage on Sunday at the Alex Theatre. These performers and more were part of the ensemble cast of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles. The group performed to a full house for their 28th season show, "Divas 3: Opera Strikes Back." The men's choral group sang classical and contemporary opera and musical theater pieces that included a combination of dancing and theatrics.

An evening of music by composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz could be the start of something big for the Los Angeles City College Theater Alumni and Associates. Record producer Bruce Kimmel, an alumnus of the college Theatre Academy and president of the alumni association, is directing the revue featuring his friends, all performers from Broadway and television, on Monday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The academy in Hollywood provides instruction in all aspects of producing, acting, costumes and technical design, Kimmel said.